On April 9/14, after my last exam, I decided to stop drinking coffee and tea. At that time, I was drinking 3 cups of coffee/tea a day, I was getting 5 hours of sleep a night, I was eating terribly and I felt like crap. Did I mention the weight gain?
How did things get so bad?
Empty coffee cup
In a recent article in the Globe and Mail, Tralee Pearce talks about the cravings that caffeine trigger. She shares information from Murray Carpenter’s book, Caffeinated: How Our Daily Habit Helps, Hurts and Hooks Us. Murray says that in its purest form caffeine would be indistinguishable from cocaine!
What?!
And as of March 2013, caffeine withdrawal is now a mental disorder! So, if I drink coffee regularly (which I was), I and I stop (which I did), I may have a mental disorder. Great.
Caffeine Informer provides a list of possible symptoms, of which I have experienced at least 7 of the 10 symptoms. I think the most prominent has been lethargy. Caffeine Informer says it well “Lethargy: Forget about productivity at this stage because you’ll be unmotivated to do anything”.
If you take take caffeine away from a dependent person, they will function below par. This statement is true, based on my experience. I missed my blog last week, I am having trouble doing my school work, and I have been sooooooo tired.
Is there anyone else out there who is a recovering caffeine addict like me?
Neena
A Second Time Around 
I’m in the exact same situation. I’m addicted to tea. I drink so much my heart races and I get shortness of breath. It’s horrible but I’m addicted. The warmth makes me feel so good and I’m scared to withdrawl!
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Argh! Darn that warmth >:-[ I know how you feel. It’s like a hug, only in your stomach. Maybe talk to your doctor about your symptoms – she/he can suggest an ideal amount, based on your age. I can’t tell not to be scared of withdrawal symptoms, they suck. But, if you are ready to give up your daily dose, you will be able to live through the symptoms. I am on day eight – the symptoms should subside by the end of the week for me.
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Thanks for posting this I cant get more than 3 weeks without relapsing on caffeine, everybody thinks caffeine addiction is a joke but its not, do you know or heard of any caffeine support groups or doctors or pysh specializing in this?
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Hi Mike, I did a quick google search and there are definitely support groups out there! Are you back on caffeine now? I have managed to stay away from coffee for the most part. In the past 4 months I have had approx. 3 cups – not too shabby. It is still difficult for me to stay away, especially when I pass a coffee shop, but I have noticed a real improvement in my health 🙂 Good Luck to you – you will be able to successfully wean yourself off, just keep getting back on the wagon!
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